“Look: the trees exist; the houseswe dwell in stand there stalwartly. Only wepass by it all, like a rush of air.And everything conspires to keep quiet about us,half out of shame perhaps, half out of some secret hope.”

Austrian poet and novelist of the early 20th century, Rilke is best known for his lyrical, introspective work that explores the depths of human experience and the mysteries of existence. His poetry, including *The Book of Hours*, captures the quiet ache of longing and the sublime in ordinary moments.